Ivy's First Horse Event

[SaddlePsych'D]

We took Ivy to Munstead UA ODE today for her first horse event. Feeling very proud of her, and us (apart from a burger based incident...)

She had a bit of a moment with the first couple of horses galloping past XC so we moved to a slightly quieter bit and did a few 'watch me' as the horses came past. I don't think she wanted to chase the horses but the sight/sound of them galloping past pushed her over the top in an environment with lots of new sights, sounds and people. Once she focused a bit and was able to show calm behaviour with horses passing we rewarded that and then she was fine.

She was beautifully behaved by the SJ, except...neither my or OH considered that sitting down the grass directly next to her to eat our burgers might not be a great idea, at least, not yet. She snatched at my burger in my hand, and then again once I'd stood back up (naughty!) - she then started squawking and so we moved away from the arena to finish our food and regroup before going back, and then she was good as gold again. She doesn't do that at home so I think it was the combo of environment and then the food sending her stimulation over the top again.

 

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Gorgeous girl. Hard to resist a burger!!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Thankfully she only got some bun (she seems to love carbs) so we kind of salvaged the rest of it. At home she'll come and express her interest if we're eating on the sofa but she would never launch herself (her mouth!) at food actually in our hands like that.

At the time I was mortified and a bit cross with her but then I realised it was our fault, it was kind of funny, and also how good a job she had done at being at the event. Lots busier than most places we go, horses everywhere, PA system, beeper/buzzers, whistles, other dogs (not that she cares about them). I'm so proud of her

 

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Joe would've done the same with a burger in the early days, for sure! He also wouldn't have coped well at all with thundering hooves, other dogs, whistles or any of those other things, so yeah she's doing really well!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'd like to barbecue soon but I'm trying to work out Ivy logistics because it will be temptation everywhere, I predict chaos!

She's a funny thing, she's timid but getting so much better. She's coped amazingly with situations like busy restaurants, pubs, even the train to London (aside from having a cheeky wee in Waterloo station, whoops) but all it can take is for one person to be there that she's wary of and it becomes much harder for her.